Vingegaard Wins Best Rider Award in 2023

Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard received the "Velo d'Or" award for the best rider of the season, but the Dane was absent from the ceremony in Paris on Tuesday. Vingegaard, who won the Tour de France for the second consecutive time in July, is expected to arrive in the French capital tomorrow, Wednesday, when organizers reveal the route for the 2024 edition. This was the first time the Velo d'Or award, first awarded in 1992, was presented during an official ceremony on Tuesday. However, Vingegaard’s teammate from Jumbo-Visma, Christophe Laporte, was present to accept the Bernard Hinault award for the best French rider of the season after winning the European champion title. Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel, who won the world title and the prestigious Paris-Roubaix race, received the Eddy Merckx award for the best one-day rider. Belgian Lotte Kopecky was awarded the women's Eddy Merckx award after winning the Flanders race and titles in the world championship. All awards are given based on the selection of a panel of journalists.